Austanian Race

"Forged from the origins of a mountain god,"

Austanians have a small pantheon and origin story surrounding their largest mountain, an active stratovolcano. From this story is a kernel of truth that is the foundation of their history and presence in the isolated mountainous region. While the true origins and evolutionary tree of this race are shrouded in mystery, some explanations can be eluded to through the pantheon and various mythos carried by them.

The origin story starts with what is described as a primordial soup or state of the world, in this state was chaos, heat, and darkness. Then Ionad-Bheann, the lord of mountains and their creation god, was born from the chaos and heat and into the darkness that was the universe. Seeing the possibilities of the devoid realm and being filled with curiosity that comes with new life, Ionad-Bheann created a land that he would desire to live in. Filled with towering mountains and forests, harsh yet forgiving, a paradise for a god who wanted this land to be strictly for him. However, after eons of wandering this land alone and feeling only its silence, Ionad-Bheann created a race in his likeness and temperament. Seeing how animals in his land thrived he felt his people should reflect that wild nature, to be untamed, strong-willed, caring, loyal, and observant. To be like packs of wolves that cared for each other and hunted with cunning intelligence, and to be like the stags, stoic and strong to protect his land and herd. From this the Austanians were created, people as tall as the mountains and forests they would call home, eyes to reflect the primordial beginnings this world was once in, as strong and untamed as the animals they shared this land with, and as wise and intelligent as Ionad-Bheann himself.

It should be noted that the Austanians believe that they are direct descendants of Ionad-Bheann, created from his flesh and in the heat of the volcano they attribute to being his home. However, the royal-lineage is said to have been consistently blessed and intertwined with Ionad-Bheann several times attributing to their iconic red eyes along with above-average size, strength, and "untamed" nature- creating some of the strongest warriors and wisest kings known in their history.